Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) operates a fleet of 85 aircraft, owned to 76 destinations in 40 countries all over the world – including China, naturally, with daily flights between Shanghai and Switzerland. As part of the Lufthansa Group and a member of the Star Alliance network, SWISS remains true to its mission of providing high quality service, connecting Switzerland to the rest of the world through the country’s three main airports: Zurich, Geneva and Basel. In 2009 alone, SWISS helped 13.8 million guests reach their destinations comfortably.
More than a Swiss company, SWISS is the standard bearer and true embodiment of its country’s values. Precision, hospitality, an eye for quality in every detail and personal care guide our daily operations so that every guest feels like they’re at home.
SWISS is committed to a careful, sustainable and maximised use of our planet’s natural resources. It’s part of our corporate culture. But it’s something that doesn’t just appear on a piece of recycled paper. It’s reflected in our actions every single day.
We measure with precision the amount of fuel required for each and every flight so nothing goes to waste. Thanks to the latest technical advances in fuel efficiency, SWISS has been able to reduce its average fuel consumption per 100 passenger-km by 30%. Contributing to the fuel efficiency is the introduction of new Business Class seats, made lighter through an engineering method that replaces materials like sponge and foam with air. By using adjustable air cushions, the overall weight is reduced; at the same time, our guests’ comfort is improved by allowing each person to select the exact seat feel they desire.
Other fuel saving factors go from simple things like new in-flight trolleys, built from lighter materials, to the more complex, like improved flight planning systems. Also, sometimes, we only have to look at nature: when birds migrate, their instinct allows them to always fly the shortest distance from A to B. Well, like them, we too make the most of the wind and take the shortest routes possible, which allows us to optimise our speed during the flight.
SWISS is anything but indifferent to the world we live in. Because we do our best to reach a balance between the needs of our environment and the pull of the economy, we’re very proud to be the official airline that, together with Presence Switzerland, will represent our home country at Expo Shanghai 2010.
